The Spatial Economics & Econometrics Centre (SEEC), Heriot-Watt University, has been selected to organise a very prestigious conference in December this year. This is the 26th (EC)2 Conference, and the topic is "Theory and Practice of Spatial Econometrics". Spatial econometrics encompasses purely spatial economic contexts, but also regional economics, economics of networks (including social networks and committees), cross-section dependence and endogenous interdependence.

The (EC)2 is one of the oldest and most prestigious scholarly society in econometrics. This is only the third time this prestigious conference is coming to the UK; previous occasions were Oxford (1993) and London (2003, UCL). Following Scottish tradition of inter-university co-operation in economics, the local organisation will be shared across several universities. For further details, please see announcement in the attachment.

The conference usually attracts about 50 top academics worldwide. About 5 of these are selected as invited speakers. The programme chair this year will be Dr Sean Holly, University of Cambridge. The invited speakers are among the topmost in the field worldwide, and the scientific committee likewise.

For more information please visit the seek website at: http://seec.hw.ac.uk/news-events.html.

There will also be a separate conference dinner held on the evening of Friday 18th December at the Marriot Hotel in Dalmahoy, attendance of the dinner requires purchase of an additional ticket.